Like many Minnesota cities, St. Cloud has implemented a hiring freeze in response to the economic downturn and recent LGA cuts. As a result, St. Cloud may not be able to hire the additional police officers or support staff that its newly constructed, larger police department headquarters was meant to accommodate, according to the St. Cloud Times. The city had intended to hire an additional six police officers and numerous support staff positions as part of the police department headquarters project to meet the city’s growing safety needs. These increases were on top of the city’s regular staffing levels; however, the police department is currently down five police officers, four full-time community services officers, and 14 part-time community services officers from these regular levels.
LGA has taken several hits over the past few years, making it difficult for cities to reclaim their loses from the previous round of cuts. Collectively, cities manage a 6% smaller workforce today than they did back in 2003, and this has affected police forces, library staffs, lifeguards, and firefighters alike. Meanwhile, there is a greater demand for the services that cities provide. Without adequate LGA funding, many cities will struggle to meet the needs of their residents in the upcoming years. If you value the safety of your community, contact your legislators and the governor today, and tell them to protect LGA next session.